A recent media article highlighted celebrities who have gone public about their experience with postpartum depression (PPD) by sharing their PPD Story. The list includes: Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox, Amanda Peet, Kendra Wilkinson, Bryce Dallas Howard, Carnie Wilson, and Lisa Rinna. I chose to fictionalize my story, but there’s a lot of truth in “Back in Six Weeks,” my first novel, inspired by my story of postpartum psychosis. Get your copy at Amazon today.
A few celebrities have felt so strongly that they wrote books about their experience. In 2001, Marie Osmond released her memoir, “Behind the Smile: My Journey out of Postpartum Depression.” In 2005, Brooke Shields became a very public advocate for greater understanding of postpartum depression with her memoir, “Down Came the Rain.”
Valerie Plame Wilson, a former CIA operative, devoted a chapter of her 2010 book “Fair Game” to explaining her struggle with PPD after the birth of her twins. She went on to become a volunteer for Postpartum Support International (PSI) the leading organization dedicated to helping women suffering from perinatal mood disorders. Valerie currently serves on PSI’s President’s Advisory Board, as does Mary Jo Codey, former New Jersey first lady, who has turned her struggle with PPD into advocacy.
At the 2013 PSI conference in Minneapolis, I met Stacey Ackerman, who wrote “Supermom, A Postpartum Anxiety Survival Story,” and Ivy Shih Leung, who wrote “One Mom’s Journey to Motherhood,” bravely sharing her struggles with infertility and depression. Ivy writes a regular PPD blog.
It takes an extra measure of courage to publicly write about postpartum psychosis (PPP), a more serious perinatal mood disorder. In 2009, Teresa Twomey, JD wrote “Understanding Postpartum Psychosis, a Temporary Madness.” Teresa reviewed my novel and has been a tireless advocate for women with PPP. At the 2014 PSI Conference, I met Teresa and Katherine Stone, founder of Postpartum Progress.
This year Jennifer Moyer released “A Mother’s Climb Out of Darkness,” her memoir about overcoming postpartum psychosis. Jennifer is in Wales at the International Marce Society meeting, where she is presenting her poster on Perinatal Mental Health and Advocacy. At the 2013 PSI conference, I met Jennifer and Michelle Davidson, a PPP survivor and PSI’s PPP coordinator. After hearing and reading the stories of so many brave women, I truly realize that I AM NOT ALONE.
Read more Heartstrings-Stories-of-Hope on the PSI website. Show your support. Become a member of PSI and/or donate to the cause. If you have a #PPDStory to share, please comment on this blog.
